People Saying Heat Pumps are Rubbish - Are They?

NedS

matelodave said:

If yours is a monobloc then you probably have the circulation pump in there as well - mine is in the indoor hydrobox but its no more noisy than the circulating pump in the gas boiler we had in our previous home (in fact it looks pretty much the same)

It is a monobloc, but it's a Samsung which does not contain a circulation pump, as they are located inside by the DHW cylinder. I had a listen today, and the noise is definitely coming from the bottom right corner near where the flow and return pipes exit, and is being amplified by some vibration which I can dampen by putting my hand on the casing. I'll take a look at it later this summer when I have the casing off to service, and see if I can dampen the vibration.

barker77

NedS said:

matelodave said:

I cant hear the compressor at all on my heaatpump (14 year old Daikin) unless I rest my ear on the casing, likewise the only noise is from air passing through the fan blades which can increase depending on the wind direction and if its working hard. There is no mechanical noise. Sometimes there's a hiss as a valve operates. 

They nearly all have either rotary or scroll compressors which are almost silent compared to reciprocating compressors like those fitted in fridges and freezers.

Its not totally silent but I can stand next to my outside unit and hear the roar from the oil boiler across the other side of the road.

OK, that sounds potentially different to mine. The noise from mine definitely sounds more 'mechanical' in nature, like a motor than fan noise. Doesn't sound like bearings (and shouldn't as the unit is new) and definitely doesn't sound like movement of air. The pitch changes as the unit ramps up (which of course doesn't discount fans/movement of air as the fan speed probably increases too), leading me to believe it's the compressor, but definitely quieter than next doors roaring oil boiler under normal load.

Is yours a daikin? 

QrizB

barker77 said:

NedS said:

matelodave said:

I cant hear the compressor at all on my heaatpump (14 year old Daikin) unless I rest my ear on the casing,

OK, that sounds potentially different to mine.

Is yours a daikin? 

NedS says they have a Samsung, in the post immediately before yours.

Spies

BoYaNY73 said:

It’s not the outside units that disturb me . I can stand next to them and hear nothing. It’s the noise throughout the whole of inside the house that is impossible to live with

It's the resonance from the compressor, its horrible as its a really low hz, you can't get away from it. For me, octopus added little rubber mats between the heat pump and wall bracket which helped a little and unless its working really hard, I now rarely hear it.

You need to raise a noise complaint with your local planning authority

barker77

Spies said:

BoYaNY73 said:

It’s not the outside units that disturb me . I can stand next to them and hear nothing. It’s the noise throughout the whole of inside the house that is impossible to live with

It's the resonance from the compressor, its horrible as its a really low hz, you can't get away from it. For me, octopus added little rubber mats between the heat pump and wall bracket which helped a little and unless its working really hard, I now rarely hear it.

You need to raise a noise complaint with your local planning authority

Oh! I assumed they were always floor mounted! Im expecting mine to be so hoping not too loud 

michaels

barker77 said:

Spies said:

BoYaNY73 said:

It’s not the outside units that disturb me . I can stand next to them and hear nothing. It’s the noise throughout the whole of inside the house that is impossible to live with

It's the resonance from the compressor, its horrible as its a really low hz, you can't get away from it. For me, octopus added little rubber mats between the heat pump and wall bracket which helped a little and unless its working really hard, I now rarely hear it.

You need to raise a noise complaint with your local planning authority

Oh! I assumed they were always floor mounted! Im expecting mine to be so hoping not too loud 

In theory (and in the sound calcs) a wall mount has fewer 'reflective surfaces' so produces less sound at distance.  I have heard some go for spring mounted feet onto the support arms for wall mounted as it reduces sound and vibration transfer more than rubber ones.

BoYaNY73

Inside my house 

Spies

BoYaNY73 said:

Inside my house 

Noise complaint to local planning authority

grumpypensioner

Following my discussion with several local heat pump users, I add a further comment.
First a new build, installed a large ground source system. Equipment took a whole small room (storage, water pumps etc.). Under floor heating, very slow response and must be on continuously, much lower operating temperature, needs a conventional emersion heater to top up hot water (heat pump system only reaches 40ºC), perma frost in back garden above heat exchangers. Yearly savings probably but no comparison with gas alternatives, huge cost outlay. Performance ok as long as you don't open doors or windows.
Second user, installed an air source heat pump to heat the water, again slow response and lower operating temperatures, continuous operation with accompanying external fan noise (but directed at neighbours!). Back up emersion heater essential. Again don't open doors or windows.

I conclude, one large single system not good, overall savings improbable.  Split the input to use a gas heater for hot water and heat pumps for warm air to heat the house. Don't believe government rhetoric unless you want save the world. If you wish to reduce costs and help the planet just lower the operating temperature of your existing system, simples! Watch YouTube.

On noise, air source heat pumps need a lot of air to work with large fans operating continuously, and that will produce noise outside. Bet they didn't factor that into the equation. Vegetation helps absorb noise as does a fence deflect it. Could get the council to measure it? I have a neighbour who built a swimming pool with a circulating pump installed in a shed at the end of the garden, the continuous humming totally ruined us sitting out in the open. Time passed and they stopped using the pool which turned green, and we became too old and deaf so no longer sat out in the sun to notice. Tempus fugit and which solves most problems. Now we just worry about the house being warm enough and the prescriptions arriving on time. Irritations are all to do with perspective. 

QrizB

grumpypensioner said:

Following my discussion with several local heat pump users, I add a further comment.

Your accounts are entirely at odds with the three heat pump users I know, all of whom are entirely happy with their systems.